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What are Evidenced-Based Practices?
Evidenced-based practices (EBPs for short) are ways of delivering services to people using scientific evidence that has shown that the services actually work. The definition used by the Institute of Medicine is the integration of best –researched evidence and clinical expertise with patient values. In this case we mean services for people with severe mental illnesses.
What types of interventions are identified?
The President’s New Freedom Commission on Mental Health published its final report in 2003 gives several examples of evidence-based practices such as cognitive and interpersonal therapies for depression, medication algorithms, and collaborative treatment in primary care. The report supports the SAMHSA/Dartmouth project which has identified six EBPs that it is promoting throughout the country:
- Illness Management and Recovery
- Integrated Dual Disorders Treatment
- Medication Management
- Assertive Community Treatment
- Supported Employment
- Family Psycho-education
Are these the only practices that lead to good outcomes?
The practices named in the report and those identified by SAMHSA are NOT the only practices that work. These are ones which have undergone more thorough examination and have gained national recognition. Along with EBPs, the mental health field has developed promising, though less thoroughly studied, emerging best practices. Some of these include jail diversion programs, consumer operated services, and trauma-specific interventions.
Will these practices work in Hawaii?
An important part of this project includes researching this question. All six of the practices promoted by SAMHSA have been researched and found effective in urban and rural settings with diverse populations. We know, however, that Hawaii’s diverse population and location is not represented in the current body of research. With this grant we will make cultural adaptations to the standard evidence-based practice and compare outcomes.
The project team will work with 6
Community Mental Health Centers who will lead the way in
piloting these two practices. One question that many
people ask is whether these services will work with
people in Hawai‘i. The project includes researching this
very question by making cultural adaptations to the
standard practices and then comparing outcomes.
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Through on-site committees, the Project
Team will help managers, staff, and other stakeholders
to develop a feasible plan to implement these practices.
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The project team will meet with providers and consumers to
develop strategies for wider community use of the practices.
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Project trainers will provide in-depth
training to CMHC staff over the life of the grant
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Project trainers will work with AMHD key
personnel to embed the practice in other related
initiatives.
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